Albany community leaders want review of rail oil shipments

FILE - In this July 16, 2013, file photo, railroad oil tankers are lined up at the Port of Albany on in Albany, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed state agencies to strengthen the state's oversight of petroleum shipments by rail, citing devastating accidents in Quebec and North Dakota and the expansion of crude oil shipping through the Port of Albany. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Albany community leaders and environmental groups are calling for an environmental impact and public safety review of crude oil shipments by rail across New York state.

Elected officials will join Earthjustice, Riverkeeper and Environmental Advocates late Wednesday to voice concerns about whether federal, state and local emergency personnel are equipped to respond to a rail disaster involving explosive crude oil.

Their action will precede a Department of Environmental Conservation information session Wednesday evening on a shipper’s expansion plans at the Port of Albany.

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There has been a dramatic expansion of rail shipments of North Dakota crude oil over the past two years, much of it arriving at Albany for shipment down the Hudson River to refineries.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed state agencies to review the issue and make recommendations by the end of April.